Questioned by Guardia Civil

Re: 7 knots

With a boat 'impounded', my personal gut feelings are. Get someone from a local boatyard who knows both languages and local etiquette. Go talk to the peeps involved. Ask why the issue, and explain why you think you weren't at fault, but be prepared to lose face. IF they are adamant you were at fault, grovel, explain boat is new to you and didn't understand wash issues fully and won't do it again, and is there a way to sort issues without legal redress. No bribes unless locals tell you it's necessary. Suspect advice will be to not go with bribes etc, just tell them you've been an idiot and won't do it again, but can we sort it out without all legal stuff. Will mean slight amount of grovelling tho.....
 
Re: 7 knots

I can't see any reason to rationalise the Guardia's actions. Magnum's treatment is a disgrace. If 7 knots did make a bit too much wash then they could have popped by and let him know politely, and I'm sure he would have taken a little more care next time. Their reaction was driven by envy of a big and expensive boat, and the combination of big uniforms and small brains.
 
Re: 7 knots

the waterline length of a P67 should enable it to do 7 knots without serious wash - it's going to be well into full displacement mode. no more than a 50ft sail boat motoring at the same speed.

put another way a 20ft speedboat doing 7 knots will be creating a significantly greater one!

however if the boat has just come down to 7 knots from the plane, even within quite some distance, there will be a wake somewhere.............it doesn't just disappear.
 
Re: 7 knots

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I can't see any reason to rationalise the Guardia's actions.

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That wasn't my intention either. In fact I wrote "...I'm sure you didn't deserve the treatment you got".
I was just considering that they possibly had some point to start with.
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Their reaction was driven by envy of a big and expensive boat, and the combination of big uniforms and small brains.

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Yep, probably that's what influenced their over-reaction. Maybe, together with another factor: the UK flag.
In my experience, spanish people - also those with uniform - are very kind and willing to help with tourists.
But in some cases they became more friendly when, after approaching them in english, they realized we were Italian.
Quite often, even if they spoke a more than acceptable english, they preferred to use a funny mix of spanish and italian, assuming we would be more confortable with that!?...
That's a real shame, EU has the potential to be a world power, but we are stuck at home.
Hopefully, our grandchildren will be able to get rid of that.....
 
Re: 7 knots: smooth water, rough justice

yes agreed, 6 or 7knots is reasonable tootling along in biggish powerboat, enough to move other boats in a river but not unduly if at all in wideopen sea area with no reflected waves.

With lack of cameras or axshul evidence tho, its a matter of one word against another as to if or where this "great speed" and/or "great danger" occurred.

On the one hand Magnum is clear that he was doing 7knots past them, as far as i read it.

On the other hand, it seems a bit weird for 3 career water police whose presumably main motivation is to preserve the smooth and legal running of the bay to say amongst themselves "I know - even though it just isn't true at all , let's all create a load of admin hassle for ourselves and everyone else by completely stitching up that guy who just went past us at actually 7 knots and accuse him of doing massive speed like 15-20 knots swooshing past us right outside the breakwater, eh? Hee hee!" I suppose there might be potential motivation for this if there's a bonus on fines imposed, tho no idea if this is the case.

Given the situation that of course Cops Win in a did/didn't argument, easily the best gambit after the event would have been copious grovelling, possibly with swmbo getting a bit upset.

I wonder - were there any cctv camera on the port. Like the ones that took the ship going aground, also in spain. There must be, surely, in Palma?
 
Re: 7 knots: smooth water, rough justice

There is cctv on Magnum! Dunno if tape recorders were truned on though. Mags is at LIBS today so can't answer
 
Re: 7 knots: smooth water, rough justice

What a crock, sounds like, look at P67 how much would that have cost and think of a number, then add you wifes age and thats what we will make the Brit pay...

Has Magnum gone to buy a new boat just in case the other one is scuttled by the Spanish to make a man made reef....

Is it a coincidence that it was done 200 years on from Trafalgar?
 
Re: 7 knots: smooth water, rough justice

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What a crock, sounds like, look at P67 how much would that have cost and think of a number, then add you wifes age and thats what we will make the Brit pay...

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I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Maybe they did "notice" my wash, but conditions were not flat calm anyway with around 1/2m of wave height.

I do have cctv but really just for docking use and no recording.

Anyway I'm paying the fine and will put the whole thing down to experience.
 
All sorted now

Well here we are sat onboard Magnum in sunny Palma. Fine paid, paperwork complete and seal removed. One to definetly put down to experience. Feels good to have our boat back /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: All sorted now

Now you are back in control of your boat is there any system of appeal ?



The only time I have come across an impounded boat was while salvage was agreed and the payment of 'Bail' was only a temporary payment that could be reduced or increased once the salvage was agreed.


Very pleased to hear you have your boat back and can understand the appeal of forgetting the whole episode rather than dragging it out.
 
Re: All sorted now

well, that's okay i spose. Blimminek, though. I hope you managed to negiotiate them down a bit, somehow.

In any event, welcome to the ranks of those who spend fortunes learning expensive boaty lessons at their own expense and freely passing on this experience to others. A valuable forumite and no mistake.
 
Re: All sorted now

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Are you still intending to go now or stay? I am sorry all this has happened.

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We'll see. I think that decision should be made after the dust settles a bit.

Of course one of the main reasons for staying here is that (according to MartynK) I will have the biggest boat at the Easter YBW mini-gathering. If I go to the SoF that git tcm would take the honours /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: All sorted now

TCM will probably turn up in Palma at Easter now!

Did MartynK also mention his "Distribution of Wealth" concept, that the drinks bill at the Easter bash should be split pro rata to our boats' length? I have calculated that on this basis you will be in the chair for approx 2 cases of Bolly whilst I will be chipping in with a bottle of Aqua sin Gas.

Just got back from a good weekend myself Mark. Gave the boat a really good shake down on Saturday & all was great.

Flying out yesterday morning Palma Bay looked flat calm, did you get out to enjoy it?

Martyn
 
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